The UMass Wind Ensemble's recording of Stephen Paulus' Concerto for Two Trumpets and Band was nominated for a Grammy Award, with Eric Berlin one of the soloists! Former faculty, James Patrick Miller conducted.

Fantastique, the CD on MSR Classics, includes four other works, two by Jeffrey W. Holmes: his Continuum for Trumpet (Berlin), Trombone (Greg Spiridopoulos) and Wind Ensemble, and his Herald Emeritus Fanfare, commissioned by Berlin in memory of beloved professor Walter Chesnut.
Berlin performs Evan Hause's Trumpet Concerto and is joined by Charles Schlueter for James Stephenson's Duo Fantastique. The Wind Ensemble plays all works except the Fanfare, which is performed by the Trumpet Ensemble.

Performers as Creative Agents: Cyndi Lauper's Performance of "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"

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Ticketed concerts:
Free for Music/Dance majors or minors (except special events)
$3 for UMass Amherst students (except Dance concerts)
$5 for other students, seniors & children under 18
$10 for general public
Box Office 413-545-2511 or usually available at the door
Online Ticketing page: fac.umass.edu/MusicandDance

FACULTY SUCCESSES

Fantastique, a CD recently released on MSR Classics, contains music for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble performed by Professor Eric Berlin, trumpet, and the UMass Wind Ensemble conducted by former Professor James Patrick Miller. One of the works on the CD, Concerto for Two Trumpets and Band by Stephen Paulus, has been nominated for a Grammy Award! The CD also features music by Jeffrey W. Holmes, Jazz & Composition Professor at UMass, as well as James Stephenson & Evan Hause.

On the CD, Berlin performs on trumpet and flugelhorn, and is joined by guests Greg Spiridopoulos (UMass Trombone Professor) and Charles Schlueter and Richard Kelley, two of the most famous trumpeters performing today. The UMass Trumpet Ensemble, directed by Berlin, also performs. All of the music on the CD was written for Eric Berlin.

Click here to see the description of Fantastique on the MSR Classics website, and to purchase the CD.

Eric Berlin

Jeffrey W. Holmes

Tuba Professor John Bottomley's brass quintet, Bala Brass, recorded a CD which was released recently on the Beauport Classical label. This recording, entitled Revealed, features works written for brass quintet by living composers, from established composers like Dana Wilson to rising stars like Clint Needham.

Other members of the quintet are Seelan Manickam and James Ackley, trumpet; Kristen Sienkiewicz, horn & Martin Wittenberg, trombone.

Professor Emiliano Ricciardi received the Lauro De Bosis Fellowship in Italian Studies from Harvard University, where he will be in residence in the Spring of 2015. As a De Bosis fellow he will be affiliated with the Departments of Music and Romance Languages, conducting research on the late-Renaissance poet Torquato Tasso and the madrigal settings of his epic poem, "Jerusalem Delivered."

Professor Ayano Kataoka, percussion, recorded Paul Lansky's Threads (2005) with her percussion quartet Time Travellers. The CD, which also includes Lansky's new work, Textures, is on Bridge Records and is available on Amazon, ArkivMusic & iTunes.
Prof. Kataoka's quartet includes Gwendolyn Burgett, Svet Stoyanov & Ian Rosenbaum, percussionists.

Catherine Jensen-Hole released a CD of her original instrumental compositions and songs, and her arrangements of jazz standards. Entitled Songs of Love, Life and Loss, the CD features UMass Jazz and African American Studies Professors Jeffrey W. Holmes piano; Tom Giampetro drums; Felipe Salles saxophone; and Bob Ferrier guitar. Wayne Roberts is on bass and Australian accordionist Cathie Travers, a long-time musical collaborator of Jensen-Hole’s, performs on four of the tracks. The CD is available on Amazon, CD Baby, CD Universe, and CC-Music. Jensen-Hole directs the DOWNBEAT award-winning UMass Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

Professor Brandon Keith Brown won the 2014 Mendelssohn Scholarship which was awarded by the American Friends of Mendelssohn Foundation and Maestro Kurt Masur and his wife; winners are selected by Maestro Masur. The prestigious once-in-a-life time scholarship is given to young conductors of international prominence who studied primarily in the U.S. It carries a $5000 stipend, airfare and all expenses paid to Germany. The recipient studies with Masur in Leipzig, conducts research on Mendelssohn's music, and tours Germany tracing the composer’s musical contributions. Culminating events include masterclasses and a performance with Maestro Masur and the Leipzig Sinfoniker.

One of the best music schools/departments in Massachusetts and in New England, offering graduate and undergraduate Music Education, Jazz, Performance, Music History and Music Theory degrees and programs.